Hesher (movie) [spoilers]

Cafe Society
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So I just saw this film a few days ago and it’s been on my mind a little. I’m not sure what I think about it. I like it a little for a few reasons but I also dislike it a little for a few reasons. Here they are:

Likes:

  • Unconventionally, the title character is not the main character of the movie (although I’d like to see a movie where Hesher was the main character). Maybe they changed the title after editing?
  • Hesher, the character, was just so well acted. Mad props to Joseph Gordon-Levitt. I love the scene where he was first introduced - “You fucked me” were the first words he said.
  • Natalie Portman - she’s acting well too, just not in the same movie, it seemed. But that was perfect too because she’s not living the same life as T.J. or Hesher, so why should she be in synchronicity with those lives? It’s like reality.
  • Devin Brochu - really good in this role.
  • The casting was, just perfect. If you told me a real casting director was responsible I wouldn’t believe you because it’s just so non-hollywood.

Dislikes:

  • Hokey. Yeah, it’s a bit hokey in the ‘misfit teaches the straights what’s really important in life’, kind of way.
  • The whole way through the movie I was re-evaluating what kind (genre) of movie it was, until the last 10 minutes. But maybe that’s a good thing.
  • I don’t know much about heavy metal music, but I don’t actively dislike it. I hope the director picked appropriate tracks for the story - I can’t be sure.
    So what did dopers think of it?
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edited - tried to make an ascii ‘middle finger’. Didn’t work.

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it looks perfect on mouse over,
gave me bit a shock to tell the truth

4

I thought it was great. JGL was brilliant as Hesher. A little crazy, wait is he actually messed in the head?, a little genius and a little fucked up. His parables are hilarious. He’s the modern day Jesus. You know, “Love thy neighbor and fuck that guy he’s an asshole.” and “It’s ok to like pussy.”.

Dwight was good in his role as Depressed Dad and Natalie Portman was good in her role as Mouse Girl.

The Grandma character was played well by the actress. I loved how they had her get all clear-headed, aware and deep thinking after she smoked her “medical cigarette”.

I loved that Hesher and the Kid and Depressed Dad finally went for a walk with Grandma.

And the Kid getting his car back was the perfect ending to this tale of enlightenment.

I think it’s probably the second best coming of age movie right behind St. Vincent.

5

I forgot to actually address this part.

As a big fan of early Metallica I thought the music selected was appropriate for the story.

6

Hesher was one of the worst cinematic experiences I’ve had in the last 30 years, far eclipsing such gems as The Guardian and Safe. Joseph Gordon-Whosits performance was quite a performance, but not a performance of anything in particular; it was just a performance.

The rest of the movie: the characters, the situations, the dialogue, people’s reactions to events, etc. were all an incomprehensible mess, as if a newly-released Truman was determined to make a “real” movie that was deep and about “real” people, but it wasn’t and they weren’t because he has no actual experience with people or the world.

The music was fine, if unimaginatively selected (and thus seemingly exhibiting another example of someone trying to make a movie about a subject they little or no actual knowledge of, IMO). It was the real world equivalent of Stewart Stevenson having input on what a proper soundtrack for the film would be like.

I had purchased this on BR for like $9. I sold it the day after for $1.28 credit at Zia Records and consider it a lesson learned.